INFLUENCE OF SELECTED PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS (SEX, AGE, GESTATIONAL STATUS, AND PARITY) ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND ERYTHROCYTE ABNORMALITIES IN REMBI SHEEP: A CASE STUDY IN THE SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT OF THE TIARET REGION OF ALGERIA

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sex, age, parity, and pregnancy on hemogram and erythrocyte abnormalities of the Rembi sheep raised in the semi-arid environment of the Tiaret region of Algeria.The study was conducted at the experimental farm of Ibn Khaldoun University of Tiaret.A total of 57 apparently healthy sheep (24 males and 33 females) were used in this study, aged four months and older.Blood samples were collected in an EDTA tube for blood count (especially the red blood cell line), and blood smears were stained by MGG.In the current study the mean values of hematological parameters were RBC = 8.062.09x 10/mm, Hb = 9.751.04g/dl, Hct = 27.305.56%,MCV = 34.855.17fL, MCHC = 37.616.53g/dl, and MCH = 13.562.67pg.Statistical analysis showed that the effect of parity was significant (P<0.05) on Hb and Hct, and there was no significant effect for sex, age, and pregnancy.Among the 57 blood samples analyzed, 35 (61.4%) showed abnormal red blood cells, while the remaining 22 (38.6%)showed normal red blood cells, with a predominance of shape abnormalities detected in 30 out of the total 35, constituting 85.71% of the abnormalities detected, alone or in combination with other abnormalities.followed by size abnormalities (14.28%), inclusion abnormalities (8.57%), and color abnormalities (5.71%).Echinocytes and poikilocytes are the most frequent forms detected in this population studied, whether in males or females, pregnant or non-pregnant.On the other hand, anomalies of size, coloration, and intraerythrocyte inclusion remain less frequent.